The Simple Guide to Modal Auxiliary Verbs

The English language may seem to be fairly simple for a
first language speaker, but when it comes to explaining the different parts of
speech and their uses, even experienced speakers may find that that are at a
loss for words. This is where a simple guide will come in handy â€“ whether you
are learning English or teaching it to someone else, the simple guide series
will tell you everything you need to know. This one deals with modal auxiliary
verbs.

What is a modal
auxiliary verb?

Modal auxiliary verbs are also referred to as modal verbs or
modals and are used before main verbs to add meaning to the main verbs e.g.

I will go there
tomorrow (Will is a modal verb, it
adds meaning to the main verb "go")

They must hurry
or we will be late (Must is a modal
verb, it adds meaning to the main verb "hurry")

What are the modal
auxiliary verbs?

Can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must,
ought

Each modal verb adds meaning to a main verb in a different
way, and many are used to show varying levels of politeness or formality e.g.

Can I use that?; May I use that? ("May" is more formal
and polite)

Modal verbs usually come before the base form of an
auxiliary verb or main verb (but sometimes a noun or adverb is placed between
the modal verb and the base form of the auxiliary or main verbs) e.g.

I could start
now; I couldhave finished
earlier; They should just go (Just
is an adverb placed before the base form of a main verb); Must Igo?
(Nouns are found between the modal verb and base form of the auxiliary or main
verb when questions are asked)

Negative forms

Every modal has a negative form, and this is created by
adding the modal + not. This usually creates two separate words, but contracted
forms can also be created, and these forms are more common in spoken English
(although either form is correct). Each modal is modified as follows:

Can = Cannot = Can't

Could =Could not =
Couldn't

May = May not

Might = Might not = Mightn't (Mightn't is very rarely used)

Shall = Shall not = Shan't (All forms of shall are seen as
formal language)

Should = Should not = Shouldn't

Will = Will not = Won't

Would = Would not = Wouldn't

Must = Must not = Mustn't

Modal auxiliary verbs
used in the present and future tenses

Modals and the main verbs or auxiliary verbs that they are
paired with can change according to the tense that is being used.

When using the present and future tenses, the modal verb
remains the same and the verb that it modifies remains in its base form e.g.

I mustgo
now; Can I call you
tomorrow?; I will get to it when I
have time

Note: When using the
present continuous tense as a future tense, the auxiliary verb "be" changes
form e.g."They are running next
week" becomes "They might be running
next week" (The auxiliary verb will almost always become "be")

Modal auxiliary verbs
used in the past tense

When using modal verbs in the past tense, the word "have" is
combined with the modal and the past perfect form of the main verb is
used e.g.

I must have gone
last week; Could I have called
yesterday?; I would have gotten
to it by the time you got back.

Note: The use of a
modal + "have" overrides the use of "had" when dealing with the past tense (had
changes to" have" to accommodate the modal, but the tense remains the past).

"Would" and "could" are exceptions, as they can both be used
in the past tense without the need for "have" or for changing the base form of
the verb e.g.

I wouldrun
a lot when I was younger; I coulddo
it before but I forgot how

"Shall", "will" and "can" cannot be used in the past tense
(although "could" is generally seen as the past tense form of "can").

Some common uses for
modal auxiliary verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs add meaning to other verbs, and in
doing this they modify the meaning of an entire sentence. They indicate the
importance or nature of that what is being "done" in the sentence. We use modal
verbs to indicate:

- What must (or mustn't) be done or what must (or mustn't)
happen e.g.

They should get
their act together, I must leave by
lunchtime, He must not come here
again

- What can or might happen, or what can't or might not
happen e.g.

It might rain
tomorrow, He shouldn't be here for
at least another month, It will happen
again

- That something is allowed or not allowed (permission or
prohibition) e.g.

You can't go that
way; I shall lend you my pen; He can go whenever he wants to

- That something can or cannot be done (such as one's ability)
e.g.

I can speak
English fluently; I could dance well
when I was younger; He can play the
violin

- That advice is being given e.g.

You should see a
doctor; I would back off if I were
you; They shouldn't be doing that

Terms and expressions
that are used as modal verbs

There are some terms and expressions that are not true modal
auxiliary verbs, but are often used in the place of modals as they perform the
same function. These include: Have to, have got to, need to, ought to, be able
to and more e.g.

I want to be ableto play the guitar by the end of the
year; I have to go, You need to hurry if you're going to make
it

You may notice that an infinitive is clearly used with each
of these terms (to + base form of verbs). Modals are used before infinitives but
since these don't usually contain "to", they are called "zero infinitives".
Terms that lead into infinitives, like those listed above, are the ones that
can be used to replace modal verbs. These are sometimes needed to create the
desired meaning and will be learnt as one gains experience with the language.

Keep it simple

Before academically learning modal verbs, a proper
understanding of the English present, past and future tense system is needed â€“
this will make the learning of modals much easier. An easy way to identify
modal auxiliary verbs is to remember that they come before the infinitives of
other verbs â€“ this will help with the placement of other terms (that are not modals
but can be used in the same way) as well. Take it one step at a time â€“ and
practice and experience will ensure that you remember all you need to know in
no time.